By Anna SkinnerShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberHazardous conditions persist for post-Thanksgiving travel as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued lake-effect snow warnings for three states on Friday morning as heavy snow continues to fall.
Newsweek contacted the NWS office in Buffalo, New York, by phone for comment.
Why It Matters
The forecast comes as almost 82 million Americans plan to travel more than 50 miles from home this week for Thanksgiving. It highlights the importance of immediate weather forecasts for travelers, as heavy snow can disrupt plans and lead to dangerous travel.
...What To Know
As of Friday morning, the NWS had issued lake-effect snow warnings for New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Lake-effect snow is common in the Great Lakes region during the colder months. It occurs when cold air moves over warmer lake waters and moisture is transferred to the atmosphere, where it then falls as snow. Lake-effect snowfall rates are heavy, producing 3 inches of snow per hour or more.
"A winter storm that brought snow to portions of the northern Plains and the Great Lakes will continue into the day Friday, with strong west to northwesterly low-level post-frontal flow across the Great Lakes helping to fuel heavy lake-effect snow showers," the NWS said in a Friday forecast.
"Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches will lead to storm total snowfall upwards of 1-2 feet with locally higher amounts possible, particularly downwind of Lake Superior across the northern Lower Peninsula of Michigan as well as downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario," it continued.
In addition to the heavy snow fall, strong winds could cause snow squalls with "dangerous, white-out conditions" in parts of the Northeast, the NWS warned.
The highest snowfall totals are set to hit New York, with the NWS office in Buffalo warning of up to 22 inches for the cities of Newark and Fair Haven on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Northeast Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania are also forecast to see high snowfall totals.
What People Are Saying
NWS Buffalo said in a lake-effect snow warning: "Heavy lake-effect snow expected. Total snow accumulations 12 to 22 inches in the most persistent lake snows. Winds gusting as high as 40 mph will produce blowing and drifting snow."
NWS Albany, New York, said in a lake-effect snow warning: "During lake-effect snow, the weather can vary from bands of locally heavy snow to dry weather just a few miles away. Visibilities can also vary greatly. Be prepared for rapid changes in weather, visibility, and road conditions."
What Happens Next
The lake-effect snow warnings are already in effect and are scheduled to remain in place through Friday evening or Saturday morning depending on the location.
The NWS said in a Friday forecast, "Conditions should begin to improve into Friday evening and especially by Saturday morning as the system moves further away from the region and the northwesterly flow subsides."
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